Today the Retirement Ceremony for U.S. Army Colonel Donald N. ISBELL, Military Assistant to the Dean, was held at the NATO Defense College.
Colonel Sandy HOCKADAY as Master of Ceremony drove the event through significant speeches given by the NDC Dean, Dr. Grant T. HAMMOND, and Guest of Honour U.S. Navy Vice Admiral William SULLIVAN, US Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee.
All the speakers spoke of Colonel ISBELL’s long and distinguished career in the Armed Forces, where he held a number of prestigious positions. His first aviation assignment was in the 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry, Republic of Korea where he served as a Cobra Section Leader, Platoon Commander and Special Missions Pilot. Following his assignment to Korea he was assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps in North Carolina (1985-1990). At NATO he has served in Brussels as Director of Personnel and Security in the U.S. Delegation, before taking command of the US Army Garrison in Brussels. Colonel ISBELL was then assigned as a Strategic Land Force Planner to the US Delegation to the NATO Military Committee. At the beginning of the summer of 2005 he attended the NATO Defense College completing Senior Course 107 before serving as a faculty Advisor and Military Assistant to the Dean.
His speech was very touching, not just for the atmosphere in the American style, but also for his words of praise for his family.
The farewell ceremony was an opportunity to pay tribute to Colonel ISBELL’s important role in the NDC and for the dedication to his work.
Prepared by Mr Angelo MAROLLA (ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN